The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
GILSON GARDENS TO CLOSE DOORS
Wholesale nursery will operate through September, owners say
“Bittersweet” is the word Mark and Kristine Gilson use when describing the decision to close their garden center and nursery that’s operated for 70 years.
“At the end of June, our plan is to close retail,” Mark said. “We may possibly reopen for a couple weeks in September, that’s our retail garden center. Our wholesale nursery will operate at least through September, although all our properties are listed for sale right now. Over the next couple months, we will continue to downsize our wholesale nursery, two-thirds of our operation.
“We have a 50 percent off sale going on currently and the response has been tremendous, as has the support from our local community. Our decision isn’t for business reasons. We turn 65 in September, so downsizing was always in the cards.”
Gilson’s parents and grandparents started the business in 1947. Prior to its establishment, the property was Werner Nursery, founded by Paul Werner, a Polish immigrant.
“Werner always kept in touch after my family started their business,” Gilson said. “Paul’s grandson, Harry, now 75, worked
We thank and cherish all of our employees and customers, past and present. We continue to have lots of reflections, lots of memories and few regrets. That’s true.” — Owner Mark Gilson
here at our center, too, during weekends in May 2013. Kris and I rejoined the company in 1983 and we’ve managed it since.
“Last year, we employed 35 people, half Latino, half Caucasian, and half women. At our peak, we’ve employed 50 individuals, including, always, a lot of local students. We’ve always likened this place to a summer camp for students, but it is still work.”
With many of Gilson’s employees starting off as customers, Kris said many people have been stopping by the business since the closing was announced to take photos.
“Our customers have always been amazing. They’ve always liked our atmosphere and our products. I don’t think they’ll be hardened by our closing. And our great employees, we’ve found them several other jobs, outsourced them to other nurseries.”
Gilson Gardens, at 3059 North Ridge Road, is comprised of three farms totaling 45 total acres. Mark, a former certified public accountant, and Kris met at Ohio State University in the early 1970s. He grew up in Perry. With stints in Columbus, Colorado and Madison, Ohio, he has remained a proud resident of Perry.
Kris’ father was a Lutheran pastor and the family moved frequently. Previous to attending Ohio State, she graduated from Dover High School and spent a year in Brazil. This September, the couple will celebrate 45 years of marriage.
“I was an English major and Kris was a social work major,” Mark said. “Somehow, I’ve always found my way back to the business — I guess I always knew I would end up in this industry. Even after we close, if we succeed in exiting the nursery business, we will still be working, just not in the 24/7 fast lane of the nurseries these days. But we will always remain horticulturists and environmentalists.”
Gilson, who has served on numerous committees and bodies in the industry, including past president (2008) of Nursery Growers of Lake County Ohio, Lake County Development Council and the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, said he plans to continue writing about the industry, nursery history and environmentalism.
“When I was president of NGLCO, I worked with local community groups and later visited Washington, D.C., to promote comprehensive immigration reform,” he said. “This industry has always has a strong immigrant presence — it’s a byproduct of our business. Great people, regardless of nationality, have passionately worked to ensure not only our individual success, but success across the industry.
“Originally, Italian, Hungarian and Dutch immigrants predominantly worked in nurseries. The legacy of nurseries goes back to immigrants and I know it’s a hotbed issue. We don’t support illegal immigration, but we don’t feel deportation is an appropriate penalty. We believe in our nursery immigrants, especially the Latino immigrants we have worked alongside with.”
Kris said she plans to continue with floral business design and working with J.D. Ballantine’s Flowers & Gifts in Mentor.
So how “bittersweet” will the nursery and garden center’s closing prove to be?
“Hugely,” Mark said. “With the process of selling off a 70-year operation, for myself, I go through a grieving process each day. It’s really sad because it’s been with us for so long. And yet, only a tiny percentage of family businesses make it to the third generation, where we are. And (only) small, single-digits make it into the fourth. We selfcoach ourselves every day that this is a victory lap for the family and the business.
“We celebrate the ecology and environment of Northeast Ohio, always. We celebrate our strong and local communities. We want people to know that. We thank and cherish all of our employees and customers, past and present. We continue to have lots of reflections, lots of memories and few regrets. That’s true.”